Bulkhead door structure



Nov. 27, 1951 Y. K. BUELL 2,575,387

BULKHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE Original Filed Oct. 31, 1942 I5 Sheets-Sheet l F INVENT'ORf YBung h Buff/Z ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1951 Y. K. BUELL 2,576,387

BULKHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE Original Filed Oct. 31, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q i g a; L INVENTORI.

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9.. J5- I ATTORNEY Nov. 27, 1951 Y. K. BUELL 2,576,387

BULKHEAD DOOR STRUCTURE Original Filed Oct. 51, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 IN V EN TOR.

261mg ff: Buell A TTORNf Y Patented Nov. 27, 1951 BULKHEAD noon STRUCTURE Young K. Buell, New York, N. Y., assignor to Raymond M. Hilliard as Commissioner of Welfare of the city of New York Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

464,024, October 31, 1942.

This application May 5, 1948, Serial No. 25,289

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a floating island. This application is a substitute for my abandoned application Serial No. 464,024 filed October 31, 1942.

More specifically, the invention propose'sthe construction of a floating island in the nature of a ship having many decks in its hull, each of which is sub-divided into a plurality of compartments by means of partitions with openings leading from one compartment to the other in a manner to permit persons to move about between compartments.

Another object of this invention proposes providing the openings between compartments with tubular extensions upon which caps are adapted to be threadedly engaged in a manner to watertightly seal the compartments from one another and to frustrate the spread of fire when a fire breaks out in one of the compartments due to leaks in gasoline tanks, or when a torpedo hits the ship, and thus to keep the ship afloat.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device particularly adaptable to our present wartime production when it is the aim of 4 Claims. (Cl. 114-117.)

Another object of this invention proposes the construction of a device adapted to-all kinds of ships, such as: battleships, destroyers, aircraft carriers, troopships and the like, and designed in a manner to make them substantially unsinkable and therefore safer to transport large quantities of men, ammunition and other war supplies and equipment.

Still another object of this invention is the construction of a compartment sealing device arranged in a manner to make the Worlds seacraft safe against the ravages of submarines making it feasible fora nation well supplied with these ships to wage war at great distances from their home bases. I

A still further object of this invention proposes a novel means for rotatively supporting the cap while at the same time being pivotally supported at the side of the opening it is to close'in a manner to permit the cap to move axially of the opening while being screwed on and removed from position relative to the opening.

Still further it is proposed to provide the cap witha projection adapted to be engaged by an 2 appropriate turning tool for engaging the cap in position upon its tubular extension.

Still another object proposes the provision of a means for connecting a plurality of caps together for unitary movement in a manner to permit a gang of these caps to be simultaneously opened and closed when desired.

It is a further object of this invention to construct a floating island which is simple and durable and which is adapted to mass production methods and reasonable to build.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth. I

In the accompanying drawings forming a materialpart of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a floating island in the nature of an aircraft carrier constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a floating island in thenature of a troopship constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of one of the compartment sealing means per se.

Fig. 6 is a plan viewof Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line |-'i cf Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a floating island in the nature of a warship constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of one of the compartment sealing means looking in the di-' rection of the line Ill-l ll of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a partial horizontal sectional view on the line HH of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the device.

The floating island, according to the first form of this invention, is in the form of an aircraft carrier l0 (Fig. 1) or a troopship I I (Fig. ,3). The interior of the hull l2 of each of these'ships is divided into a plurality of super-imposed deck areas l3 with each deck area being (sub-divided into a plurality of separatev compartments l4: by means of partitions I5, see Figs. 2' and 4, with the exception of one or more of the upper decks which to the material of the partition l5 surrounding the opening l6 for supporting the tube I! in position surrounding the opening I 6.

A bracket l9 is mounted on the partitionl 5 to one side of the tube N. This bracket l9 consists of a plate attached to the face of the partition [5 and from which spaced lugs 2| extend. A rod 22 is extended between the lugs 2| and has the superimposed ends of a plurality o.f-

links 23 rotatively engaged thereon. These links 23 are held spaced from each other by means of spacer elements 24.

- Ayoke 25' has its arms 26 pivotallyattached to the outer periphery of a ring 21- by means of pins 28. The opposite side .of the yoke 25 is for-med with spaced lugs 29 directed towards the free ends of the links 23. A rod 30 extends between the lugs 29 and passes rotatively through the free ends of the links 23. Spacer elements 3| are mounted on the rod 30 between the ends of the links 23 for maintaining these free ends spaced. I r

A cap 32 is formed with a groove 33 rotatively engaged by the ring 21 for rotatively supporting the cap 32 on the ring 27. The cap is threaded internally and is adapted to be threaded upon the tube H as shown in Fig. 7. Packing-washers 34 are disposed between the inner ends of the cap 32 and the adjacent face of the flange I3 of the tube H for water-tightly sealing these contacting surfaces. H

The outer face of the cap 32 extension 35 adapted to be engaged by a turning tool (not shown on the drawings)- for facilitating the turning of the cap 32 relative to the tube H. The starting alignment of the thread is indicated by the arrows 32 on the cap 32 and 32 on the ring'2l. One side of the ring 2"! has a set screw 36 threadedly engaged therethrough and is formed with a circular cutting edge 35* bearing against one side of the cap 32 for securely locking the cap 32 against turning relative to the ring 21 when desired to make the device immovable against any pressure oryibration. J

i The operation of the device is as follows:

Normally the caps 32 are in their open positions providing a free passage between compartments through the tubes I! which are of a diameter to permit a man to walk through upright. When the ship is about to be torpedoed or if a fire breaks out on the ship the caps 32 are closed isolating eachcompartment |4 preventing water from entering through a hole inone compartment from flooding. all compartments or fire from spreading from one compartment to the other.

In the .form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12, the floating island is in the nature of a warship 40 which might be a battleship, cruiser, destroyer or the like. The hull |2 of this warship 40 is divided into a plurality of compartments |4 having openings l6 adapted to be closed by caps 32'. The caps'32 in this form of the invention, however, are adapted to be closed in gangs permitting a number of caps to be closed simultaneously by one man.

The pins 28 which support the ring'2! having'their shanks passed through elongated slots is formed with an 4| formed in the ends of the arms 26 of the yoke 25. Springs 42 operate between the ends of the slots 4| and opposite sides of the shanks of the pins 28 for holding the shanks normally centrally of the slots 4|.

..Thosecaps 32-which are arranged in-astraight line have their yokes connected together by a rod 43 extended between the top endsof the pins 28.

. which pass through the top arms 26 of the yoke 25.. Those top pins 28 have longer shanks extended through the rod 43, spacer members 28 between the adjacent faces of the rod 43 and the top arms 26 of the yoke 25, through the slots 4| in the top arms of the yokes 25 and into the rings 21. Intermediate of its ends the rod 43 is formed with a grip 44 adapted to be manually gripped to move the rod 43 and simultaneously align all the caps 32 with the free ends of their respective tubes I1.

Teeth 45 are formed on the periphery of the cap 32. Supported between the arms 26 of the yoke 25 is a motor and gear reduction unit 45 having its final pinion 4'! meshing with the teeth 45. An electrical circuit 50 is provided for connecting the motors together for unitary movement and provides the means for screwing and unscrewing all the caps as a unit. I

The electrical circuit 50 includes a source of power and a reversing switch 48. This reversing switch 48 is adapted to be mounted on a wall adjacent the. grip 44 of the rods43 to be in position to be'manipulated by the person operating the rod. Throwing the switch 48 in one direction will cause all the motors to turn in one direction to screw. the caps 32 onto the tubes and throwing the switch 48 in the opposite direction will cause the motors to .turn in the opposite direction and unscrew the caps 32 from the tubes H.

The springs 42 permit the caps to be. independently screwed onto and removed from the tubes I! manually merely by compressing the springs as the rings move relative to the yokes 25 and rod 43; That is so,'because the springs 42 permit movement of the rod 43 relative to the other caps of a connected group whenever one of the caps is being independently manually screwed into its closed position.

'In other respects this form of the invention is similar to'the previous form and like reference numerals identify like parts in each of the'several views.

Instead of an electric motor, a spring motor, compressed air motor or any other turning device may be used for rotating the gear 41.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my-invention, it is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims.

Having thus described myi invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class desc'ribeda wall formed with a plurality of openings, links pivotally mounted. on said wall adjacent to said openings, a yoke for each of said openings and said yokes being pivotally mounted on said links for swinging towards said openings, 'a ring located between the arms of "each yoke and having diametricallyopposite radially projecting pins passing through slots in said arms and said slots extending at right angles to said wall with said arm substantially parallel to said wall, resilient means in said slots for resiliently holding said pins centrally in said slots, a connecting rod connecting together one of the pins of each ring, a cap rotatively mounted within each ring for threadedly engaging said openings in said wall and provided on its periphery with gear teeth, a drive pinion for each cap meshing with said gear teeth and having its axis parallel with the axis of the cap, and means for driving said pinions in one direction or the other, whereby when the threads of One or more of said caps threadedly catches the threads of one or more of said openings a force will be transmitted by said connecting rod which will assist the other caps in catching the threads of their openings.

' 2. In a device of the class described, a wall formed with a plurality of openings, links pivotally mounted on said wall adjacent to said openings, a yoke for each of said Openings and said yokes being pivotally mounted on said links for swinging towards said openings, a ring located between the arms of each yoke and having diametrically opposite radially projecting pins passing through slots in said arms and said slots extending at right angles to said wall with said arm-s substantially parallel to said wall, resilient means in said slots for resiliently holding said pins centrally in said slots, a connecting rod connecting together one of the pins of each ring, a cap rotatively mounted within each ring for threadedly engaging said openings in said wall and provided on its periphery with gear teeth, a drive pinion for each cap meshing with said gear teeth and having its axis parallel with the axis of the cap, and means for driving said pinions in one direction or the other, whereby when the threads of one or more of said caps threadedly catches the threads of one or more of said openings a force will be transmitted by said connecting rod which will assist the other caps in catching the threads of their openings, said resilient means comprising springs in the end portions of said slots engaging opposite sides of said pins.

3. In a device of the class described, a wall formed with an opening, links pivotally mounted on said wall adjacent said opening, a yoke pivotally mounted on said links for swinging toward said opening, a ring located between the arms of said yoke, a cap rotatively mounted within said ring for threadedly engaging said opening closing the same, means on said yoke and engaged with said cap for rotating said cap in one direction or the other, and means supporting said ring between the arms of said yoke so that said ring and cap are free for slight movement in a direction at right angles to said yoke.

4. In a device of the class described, a wall formed with an opening, links pivotally mounted on said wall adjacent said opening, a yoke pivotally mounted on said links for swinging toward said opening, a ring located between the arms of said yoke, a cap rotatively mounted within said ring for threadedly engaging said opening closing the same, means for rotating said cap in one direction or the other, and means supporting said ring between the arms of said yoke so that said ring and cap are free for slight movement in a direction at right angles to said yoke, said supporting means comprising pins extending from diametrically opposite sides of said ring, elongated slots formed in the arms of said yoke with their lengths extended at right angles to said arms and into which said pins are slidably engaged, and springs in the end portions of said slots and engaging opposite sides of said pins.

YOUNG K. BUELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 310,741 Stevenson Jan. 13, 1885 851,823 Merrill Apr. 30, 1907 1,111,571 Gilbert Sept. 22, 1914 1,404,941 Dominquez Jan. 31, 1922 1,565,645 Hills Dec. 15, 1925 2,219,461 Williams Oct. 29, 1940 2,396,469 Meigs Mar. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 777,933 France Mar. 5, 1935 

